Table mounting assembly

ABSTRACT

A table facilitating independent assembly includes a table top having a peripheral edge and a tubular frame circumscribing the peripheral edge. The tubular frame includes a plurality of vertical webs and an upper flange projecting inwardly toward the table top. Disposed about the periphery of the table top are a plurality of mounting brackets. Each of the mounting brackets includes a vertical base plate and an inwardly projecting shelf opposing the upper flange of the frame. Accordingly, the shelf and flange capture an edge of the table top therebetween for supporting the table top. The vertical base plate of each mounting bracket includes an upper stem portion disposed between the peripheral edge of the table top and the frame. A fastener connects the mounting bracket to a vertical web of the frame to complete the table top assembly. A plurality of legs are then disposed in combination with the tubular frame or mounting brackets to support the table top assembly.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to tables, and more particularly to a newand useful table and table top mounting arrangement therefore which isinexpensive to fabricate and facilitates installation/assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nearly every porch, patio or deck is furnished with an outdoor set ofpatio furniture for enjoying picnics, gatherings, or family dinners.Unlike conventional indoor furniture, furnishings of the outdoor varietyare typically purchased unassembled and, subsequently, assembled at thehome by the consumer. While purchasing these items in an unassembledcondition offers several advantages, i.e., reduces inventory space forthe merchant and/or cost to the consumer, the construction of such itemscan be complicated and/or laborious.

For example, it is common for a patio dinette set to include a tablehaving a smooth glass top which seats within and is supported by a metalframe. More specifically, the metal frame typically circumscribes theperiphery of the glass top and forms a channel for engaging the edgesthereof. A tight or snug fit is typically required to prevent shiftingwhich can lead to chipping of the glass edges and, subsequent crackingof/damage to the glass top. This can be especially difficult to achievewith respect to circular or oval shape table tops. To effect a tightfit, it is common to bifurcate the metal frame into two or more C-shapedframe members. Each of the frame members is caused to engage theperipheral edge by sliding each segment in-plane with the table topuntil the segments meet at a mid-point or mating plane. The ends of themetal frame are then attached by sheet metal screws or other fasteningmeans.

It will be appreciated that the prior art configuration described aboveis difficult to assemble by an individual working independently, andtypically requires a second set of hands to secure the various elementswhile being assembled. Other prior art designs are similar to the onedescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,921 B2. To facilitate the subsequentdiscussion, FIG. 1 depicts the relevant details of the Lui '921 patent.In FIG. 1, a table top assembly is depicted wherein a tubular frame 100is disposed about the periphery of a glass table top 102. The frame 100is oversized relative to the table top 102 such that when the table top102 is inserted into the tubular frame 100, a circumferential gap G isproduced between the edges 104 of the table top 102 and a sidewallsurface 106 of the frame 100. The gap G is closed or filled by a bracket110 having a t-shaped cross-sectional configuration wherein the uppervertical stem 112 of the “tee” snuggly fits within the gap G. Thehorizontal “cross” 114 of the tee supports the table top 102 on one sidethereof and engages a circumferential channel 116 formed in the frame onthe opposite side. Several brackets 110 are installed about the edges104 at equiangular increments such that the table top 102 is secured inboth directions, i.e., in-plane and out-of-plane.

While the mounting bracket disclosed in the '921 patent facilitatesassembly, i.e., may be assembled by a single individual workingindependently, assembly cannot be performed without deformation orseparation of the frame 100. That is, the stem 112 and cross 114 of thetee, especially those segments which are ninety degrees apart, cannot besimultaneously inserted within the gap G and channel 116 of the frame100. Consequently, the frame 100 must be split, installed in multiplesegments, or requires other manipulation to complete the assembly.

A need therefore exists for a table and table top mounting arrangementwhich permits independent assembly while maintaining structuralefficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A table is provided which facilitates independent assembly and includesa table top having a peripheral edge and a tubular frame circumscribingthe peripheral edge. The tubular frame includes a plurality of verticalwebs and an upper flange projecting inwardly toward the table top.Disposed about the periphery of the table top are a plurality ofmounting brackets. Each of the mounting brackets includes a verticalbase plate and an inwardly projecting shelf opposing the upper flange ofthe frame. Accordingly, the shelf and flange capture an edge of thetable top therebetween for supporting the table top. The vertical baseplate of each mounting bracket includes an upper stem portion disposedbetween the peripheral edge of the table top and the frame. A fastenerconnects the mounting bracket to a vertical web of the frame to completethe table top assembly. A plurality of legs are then disposed incombination with the tubular frame or mounting brackets to support thetable top assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in thedrawings various forms that are presently preferred; it beingunderstood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precisearrangements and constructions particularly shown.

FIG. 1 is sectional view of a prior art table top assembly at aperipheral location along an edge of the assembly, i.e., where the edgeof the table top meets the table frame.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a circular glass top table illustratingan exemplary application of a table according to the present inventionincluding a table top mounting arrangement.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 ofFIG. 2 depicting a bracket for mounting a table top to a tubular framestructure disposed about the periphery of the table top.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 depicting the mountingbracket in combination with the tubular frame.

FIG. 5 is a broken away, exploded perspective view of the mountingarrangement for the table top according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is the sectional view of FIG. 3 depicting the shear and momentloads acting on the table top mounting arrangement.

FIG. 7 depicts an alternate embodiment of the tubular frame wherein themounting bracket includes a T-shaped bearing block for securing thebracket within a T-slot of the frame.

FIG. 8 is a view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7 depicting the mountingbracket in combination with the tubular frame.

FIG. 9 depicts an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein a tableleg is coupled directly to a mounting bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identifylike elements, components, subassemblies etc., FIGS. 2-4 depict anexemplary embodiment of the table and table top assembly according tothe present invention. In FIG. 2, the table includes a table top 12, atubular frame 14 circumscribing the table top 12, and a plurality oftable legs 16. More specifically, the table top 12 is seated within andsupported by the table frame 14 which is disposed about the periphery ofthe table top 12. The table top 12 and frame 14 in combination define atable top assembly 18. The legs 16 mount to the table top assembly 18 atseveral locations, e.g., support positions at equiangular incrementsabout the periphery of the table top 12. While four legs 16 are shown,it will be appreciated that the table 10 may be supported by any numberof legs. It is desirable that there are at least three legs in order toprovide sufficient support for a the table top.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, a mounting arrangement 20 is shown for attaching thetable top 12 to the frame 14. Preferably the mounting arrangement 20 isidentical at various locations about the periphery. For simplicity, onlyone such arrangement 20 is depicted herein. The mounting arrangement 20comprises (a) a tubular frame 14 having an inwardly projecting upperflange 22 and a plurality of vertical webs 24, (b) a mounting bracket 26having at least one inwardly projecting shelf 28 for supporting an edge12 _(E) of the table top 12 and a vertical stem 30 disposed between thetable top edge 12 _(E) and the tubular frame 14, and (c) a fasteningassembly 40 for securing the mounting bracket 26 to a vertical web 24 ofthe frame 14.

The tubular frame 14 is preferably formed as a continuous homogenousstructure, i.e., without breaks. Internally, the frame 14 preferablyforms several integrated tubular structures, i.e., separated by thevertical webs 24 and, as such, produces a highly efficient tubularstructure, particularly in out-of-plane bending. In the preferredembodiment, the tubular frame 14 includes three such vertical webs 24including an innermost web 24 _(I), an outermost web 24 _(O) and acentral web 24 _(C) disposed therebetween. Furthermore, the frame 14tapers in height dimension, i.e., from the innermost to outermost webs24 _(I), 24 _(O), to provide a smooth, faired external appearance. Theinnermost and central webs 24 _(I), 24 _(C) are closely spaced and, inthe illustrated embodiment, extend the full height of the frame 14. Inthe preferred embodiment, the frame 14 begins to taper radially outboardof the central web 12 _(C).

The mounting bracket 26 includes a vertical base plate 32 which, wheninstalled, is positioned against the innermost web 24 _(I). An uppervertical stem 30 is formed integral with the base plate 32 and isdesigned to be disposed between the edge 12 _(E) of the table top 12 andthe innermost web 24 _(I) of the frame 14 in use. The thickness of thevertical stem 30 is selected to prevent in-plane movement or shifting ofthe table top 12 after assembly. This thickness dimension is a functionof the desired gap and tolerances required for assembly. The shelf 28 ofthe mounting bracket 26 projects inwardly from and is preferablyorthogonal to the base plate 32. The shelf 28 defines a surface 28 _(S)which is designed to extend substantially parallel to but spaced apartfrom the upper flange 22 of the tubular frame 14. Additionally, themounting bracket 26 includes integral side plates 36 which extendlaterally of the base plate 32 and to each side of the shelf 28.

The fastening assembly includes at least one and more preferably a pairof fasteners 40 a, 40 b which connect the mounting bracket 26 to theframe 14. More specifically, and referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, fasteners40 a, 40 b extend through aligned apertures 42 formed in each of theside plates 36 and through into the vertical webs 24. If desired,predrilled holes 44, 46 may be formed in one or both of the webs 24 tofacilitate installation. The apertures 42, 44 and 46 are locatedvertically below the surface 28 _(S) of the shelf 28 so as not tointerfere with the installation of the table top 12. In the preferredembodiment, and referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the apertures 44, 46 extendthrough the innermost and central webs 24 _(I), 24 _(C) of the frame 14,thereby producing an efficient force couple F_(A), F_(D) for reactingthe weight W of the table top 12.

In FIG. 6, it will be appreciated that the bracket 26 forms a cantileversupport which must react the weight W of the table top 12 as a shear Vand moment load M. The shear load V is principally reacted at theinterface of the side plate 36 and the innermost web 24 _(I) of theframe 14. The moment load M is reacted by the force couple F_(A) andF_(D).

The steps for assembling the table 10 and each of the mountingarrangements 20 of the present invention are as follows. Referringcollectively to FIGS. 2-6, the tubular frame 14 is positioned with theflange 22 facing downwardly such that the table top 12 may be loweredinto the frame 14 against the flange 22. The dimension of the frame 14,i.e., from the innermost web 12 _(I) on one side to the web on theother, is approximately 0.25-0.5 inches greater than the respectivetable top dimension to facilitate installation of the top withoutinterfering with the frame 14. Consequently, a small gap ofapproximately 0.125-0.25 inches is produced about the periphery of thetable top 12. Next, preferably at least three mounting brackets 26 arepositioned between the table top 12 and the frame 14 such that the gaptherebetween is filled by the vertical stem 30 of each bracket 26.Inasmuch as a snug fit is desirable, the thickness of the stem should,as nearly as is practicable, completely fill the gap. Further, thebrackets 26 should be positioned in an equiangular pattern to preventshifting of the table top 12 relative to the frame 14. Moreover, thebrackets 26 are positioned such that the shelf 28 of each abuts the facesurface of the table top 12 thereby capturing the edges 12 _(E) betweenthe shelf 28 and the upper flange 22 of the frame 14.

The mounting brackets 26 are then secured to the frame 14 by thethreaded fasteners 40. The apertures 42, which are preferably predrilledthrough the side plates 36 of each bracket, may be used as a pilot fordrilling (or forming through the threading process) apertures 44, 46 inthe vertical webs 12 _(I), 12 _(C) of the frame 14. Alternatively, theapertures 44, 46 may be predrilled such that the apertures 42 of thebracket 26 need only be aligned with the web apertures 44, 46 wheninstalling the threaded fasteners 40. As mentioned earlier, thefasteners 40 should preferably extend through the innermost and centralwebs to produce an efficient structural connection.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 7 and8 wherein the fastening assembly 40 for securing the bracket 26 to theframe 14 comprises a T-shaped bearing block 50 disposed within a T-slot52 formed in the frame 14. More particularly, the bearing block 50 ispreferably substantially rectangular in shape and attached to thebracket 26 through a necked down portion 50 _(A) so as to form a T-shapewith a bulbous head 50 _(B). The bulbous head 50 _(B) is designed to belocated on the opposite side of the innermost web 24 _(I) of the frame14 from the remainder of the bracket 26. The necked down portion 50 _(A)of the bearing block extends through an opening in the T-slot as shown.In order to permit the bulbous head 50 _(B) of the bearing block 50 tobe inserted into the frame, a slotted opening 56 is formed in theinnermost web 24 _(I) of the frame 14. The opening 56 need only be largeenough to permit the bulbous head 50 _(B) of the bearing block 50 to beinserted behind the innermost web 24 _(I). Once this is done, thebracket 26 can be slid laterally within the slot 52 such that thebulbous head 50 _(B) of the bearing block 50 is captured internally ofthe innermost web 24 _(I), preferably abutting its internal surface.

With the completion of the table top assembly, i.e., the combination oftable top 12, frame 14 and mounting brackets 26, the supporting legs 16are then attached. The legs 16 may be adapted to support the table topassembly in a variety of ways. For example, the uppermost portion ofeach leg may be configured to mate with the underside of the frame andfastened thereto by conventional threaded fasteners. Alternatively, andreferring to FIG. 9, one or more of the brackets 26 may be configured toaccept the upper end of each leg 16. That is, a clevis or cup 60 may beformed in combination with the vertical base plate of the bracket foraccepting the upper portion of each leg 16. As such, the leg 16 may alsosupport the underside of the shelf 28.

In summary, the table and mounting arrangement of the present inventionprovides a structurally efficient design while facilitating unassistedassembly. Furthermore, the construction of the table does not requireadditional assembly steps associated with connecting multiple tableframe elements.

While the mounting assembly has been described in terms of an exemplaryembodiment, a variety of other modifications will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art in view of the disclosure provided herein. Forexample, the invention has been described in terms of a circular tabletop, however, the invention is equally applicable to other geometricshapes, e.g., oval, elliptical, rectangular, octagonal, etc.Furthermore, while the table top has been described in terms of a glassconstruction or composition, the table top may be any of a variety ofmaterials. Similarly, the frame may be fabricated from metal, plastic,ceramic or other materials. While threaded fasteners are shown to securethe mounting bracket to the frame, any well-known fastening means may beemployed including, but not limited to, rivets, bolts, screws etc.Moreover, while mounting gaps of approximately 0.125-0.5 inches arediscussed in the described embodiment, the gap is a function of thedesired ease of assembly. That is, a larger or smaller gap may bedesirable or acceptable for other table configurations and thedimensions selected herein are merely illustrative of a typical mountingarrangement.

Thus, the present invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, ratherthan to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of theinvention.

1. A table comprising: a table top having a peripheral edge; a tubularframe circumscribing the peripheral edge of the table top, the framehaving an inwardly projecting upper flange and at least one verticalweb; a plurality of mounting brackets disposed about the periphery ofthe table top, each of the mounting brackets including a vertical baseplate and an inwardly projecting shelf spaced apart from the upperflange for accepting and supporting the peripheral edge of the table toptherebetween, the vertical base plate of each bracket having an upperstem portion disposed between the peripheral edge of the table top andthe frame; a fastening assembly connecting the bracket to a vertical webof the frame; and a plurality of legs supporting the frame.
 2. The tableaccording to claim 1 wherein the tubular frame includes at least aninner and secondary vertical web, the secondary vertical web beinglocated within the frame, and wherein the fastener assembly includes apair of fasteners engaging the inner and secondary vertical webs.
 3. Thetable according to claim 2 wherein the bracket includes integral sideplates disposed on each side of the shelf, and wherein one of thefasteners is disposed through each of the side plates.
 4. The tableaccording to claim 1 wherein an upper end portion of each leg is mountedwithin a portion of the bracket.
 5. The table according to claim 1wherein the fastener assembly includes a slot formed in the at least onevertical web, and a T-shaped bearing block projecting outwardly from thevertical base plate of the mounting bracket, the bearing block having ahead portion and a neck, the neck adapted to slide within the slot, thehead being positioned on an outboard side of the at least one verticalweb thereby mounting the bracket to the frame.
 6. The table according toclaim 5 wherein the at least one vertical web includes an opening havinga vertical dimension larger than the vertical dimension of the head, theopening connecting with the slot.
 7. The table according to claim 2wherein the frame tapers radially outboard from said central verticalweb.
 8. The table according to claim 3 wherein the frame tapers radiallyoutboard from said central vertical web.
 9. The table according to claim8 wherein the fasteners are disposed below the surface of the shelf. 10.The table according to claim 2 wherein the mounting brackets areequiangularly spaced about the periphery of the table top.
 11. The tableaccording to claim 3 wherein the mounting brackets are equiangularlyspaced about the periphery of the table top.
 12. A mounting arrangementfor a table top assembly, comprising: a tubular frame circumscribing theperipheral edge of a table top, the frame having an inwardly projectingupper flange and at least one vertical web; a plurality of mountingbrackets disposed about the periphery of the table top, each of themounting brackets including a vertical base plate and an inwardlyprojecting shelf spaced apart from the upper flange for accepting andsupporting the peripheral edge of the table top therebetween, thevertical base plate of each bracket having an upper stem portiondisposed between the peripheral edge of the table top and the frame; anda fastening assembly connecting the bracket to a vertical web of theframe.
 13. The mounting arrangement according to claim 12 wherein thetubular frame includes at least an inner and secondary vertical web, thesecondary vertical web being located within the frame, and wherein thefastener assembly includes a pair of fasteners engaging the inner andsecondary vertical webs.
 14. The table according to claim 13 wherein thebracket includes integral side plates disposed on each side of theshelf, and wherein one of the fasteners is disposed through each of theside plates.
 15. The table according to claim 12 wherein the fastenerassembly includes a slot formed in the at least one vertical web, and aT-shaped bearing block projecting outwardly from the vertical base plateof the mounting bracket, the bearing block having a head portion and aneck, the neck adapted to slide within the slot, the head beingpositioned on an outboard side of the at least one vertical web therebymounting the bracket to the frame.
 16. The table according to claim 5wherein the at least one vertical web includes an opening having avertical dimension larger than the vertical dimension of the head, theopening connecting with the slot.
 17. A table kit comprising: a tabletop having a peripheral edge; a tubular frame adapted to be disposedabout the peripheral edge of the table top, the frame having an inwardlyprojecting upper flange and at least one vertical web; a plurality ofmounting brackets, each mounting bracket adapted to attach to a locationon the frame, each mounting bracket including a vertical base plate withan upper stem portion and an inwardly projecting shelf, the inwardlyprojecting shelf being spaced apart from the upper stem portion so as tobe located in spaced apart relationship with respect to the upper flangeof the frame when the bracket is mounted to the frame; a fasteningassembly for connecting the bracket to a vertical web of the frame; anda plurality of legs adapted to attach to the frame.